Safety attachment for boilers.



C. W. SULLIVAN.

SAFETY'ATTACHMENT FUR- BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2|. |915.

1,157,058. Patented oct.. 19, 1315.

. COLUMBIA PLANuunnr.. \.u..WASmNaTON. n. t.

Tol `cL-ZZ whom it may concern; nl

le it Vknown lthat LpCHARLEs VAN, a citizen ofthe .United States,l residing atlLos Angeles, in the county of .Los A11- geles and vState of Californiajhave invented new and useful, Improvements inSafetyAtt'achrnentsl forvBoilers,of which the follow-j ing is'` aspjecification.

' (My. invention relates t0 a new and improved-safetyfA attachment `.for boilers and. it is an objectof my invention-to automatically prevent thel operation of theinjeetor when the water inthe boiler is belowa cer'- tain predetermined llevel.As wellknown,

l" the `principal danger in theoperation'of-a boiler Vis due to the introduction i of water i when the level of water vwithin i theboiler is below the safety level as the sudden genera-I tionlof steam may causean explosion of the boiler.

Anotheifbbject invention is to give warninglto theengineer by an automatic whistle which is Operated when Y the 'l water level in: the fboiler A'falls .below the saidpredetermined level. i y Another'object of this" inventiongy is` tol 'automatically close the oil fuel: `supply "to the boiler vfurnace when/.thei low7 Sild 'level in the boilerf:vr

vKnother o-bfectvof thi Vinvention toproL :vide means which will indicateltothe Leriu gineer in charge that the safety attachment y means withinl the boiler out of orderf'l Vith these and kother Y objects in" view which will be apparent 'as-*the 4description A proceeds, my invention consists in the construction L and arrangementof :parts herein-' after described y and@V pointed out inthe claims. 'j

.In the drawings a V.this specification, jFigure l is a side .eleval tion with: parts brokenaway, of a locomotive boilerA showing my safety attachment applied thereto.. '.Fig-12 showsjadiagram-- matic view of myv safetyfattachment and? connections partly in cross section. vI `ig-3 is a horizontal 3 3 of Big. a

LA locomotive n l preferredconstruction has kI 'nounted on its' crown sheet 1L ,fusibleY vplug 12,. Y I .have shownfsaid. plug as screwed iin :crown sheet 11.1; vThis plugt consists of a tubular metal casing providedwithanumber of inclined bores 13 arrangedaroundits periphery-and.

leading intotfhef interior thereoffy Fusible i f n n l Application' llearAprn 21, 1915*.'v seriamo. zama;-v

section taken on section line 1.0 I of any l desired i jjvfsAFETY -TTAcHMEnT F03 Boinnas.'

l metal ltjf'fills'lthe' interior". :of and a covers the 'openingsjof bores 1 3. agThe fusiev 'o'iiAaIjEs rw. sunnrvanjotosANGELEscALIFoaNrA.

' L p'ecicatien of Letters Patenti`l 19, 1.915'g ble meta-l has `al meltingpoint which isf above thatjof any ,temperatures obtained-ruby theY water orst'earn duringf'the normal operation ofthe boiler,- but should the water level y'rei cede below that ofthe crown s'heetland eX?! 1 5 `which after leaving the boiler -feXt'ends `V rearwardly thereof, thenextending downj wardly, communicates-with. a tubular valve n casing 16.1This casinglis dividedgi-nto three x y d y chambers,'Thelowerone `17 h asmountedi fr therein fa; cylindrical :valve :18 which has aj portion" cutaway on its vupper party. forming an annular shoulder vI9 adaptedfto coperate with'-the annular shoulder 20 formed ini g the upper :partbf said-chamber 11-7.f-Tl1'e' top vpart offvalve Y18 is in the sha'pifofan enlarged diskr2'1wof the saniefdiameter as? intermediatefchamber22 ofthe valve casing;L

" 23 A'which vextends through. the bottom oft valve casingrl, A" stuflingbox.2ffsecures:,.1v i

Rigidly securedV tovalve 18 is af valve stemt afiluid tight-seal between said stem `and sai-d casing. A helicalspring' is inter-y,vr

posed` between the-bottom of valvecasi'ng '.90 .Y 16. andthe enlarged end of stem 23Qholding., thevalve disk 21"on itsffseat. Stem23 pro-Q;

jects upwardly vfrom valve tbody 18 and:

slidably engages a tubular.` guide lv26 "formed in the lower part-of afvalvie 26 which is nor-' When i mally held on its 1` seat gravity.

valves '21 andf26'f'are normallyseated,.stem Y 23 ldoes not. abut .fagainst the` bottom' of said guideybut is positioned-some" slight distance from it, allowing valve"` 21 to lbexira'ised through. said distance without lifting valve e a,

26 fromxits seat,v thus-providing a lost motion `c'nnectionffora purpose tov be herein.` Y

afterfldescribed.` .Ypairof air channels 22 establish permanent 'communication between chamber22; and the outside air. -This valve V26 controls fthe"v communication between in-.f'

termedia'te chamber 22 and top chamber. 27 of thefk valvecasing; Leading fromthe V`'chamber27 apipe 2.8 jwhich,establisl-1es`- communication with train x' line of the,l air brelalsystee- Lcedinffifm the laweriraft `i fromV its seat communication between chamber 22 and said Channels is established by means of a series `of annular bores 34 prof vided in 'said disk valve 21. l/Vhen saidl valveis normally seated the lower openings ofA said bores will be closed by the'bottom of said intermediate I chamber 22. :A channel 35 extends from the lower valve chamber 17 and by ineansfof pipeV 35 communicates with a whistle 36 of any desired construction. Another channel 37 and pipe 37 'lead-v ing from the saine chamber 17 extend to the oil feedpipe andcontrol a check'valve 38:

which is adapted to out offV the oil supply to the boiler furnace. i

Operation: Assuming that the water level falls below the safety po-iiit which, in the present case, is the crown sheet level, the

fusible metal in plug 1.2, being now exposed to the direct heat of the fire, will be melted,A

running out through bores 13. Communication being now established between the interior yof the boiler and the inside of pipe 15, steam will rush through said pipe Vand enterL the lower valve'chamber 17 lifting valve'18, the valve disk 21, and valve 26 from their seats, the shoulder'l) contacting with the shoulder 20. The lifting of valve body v18 will uncover the channels leading towhistle 36 and oilfvalves 38. YVSteam passing through pipe. 35r will blow the whistle 36 while the steam passing into pipe 37 will close oil valve 38, thereby shutting 0E the oil supply to the iire boX. The lifting of valve 26 will establish communication between the train line of the air brake system and intermediate chamber 22 and through bores 34 to channels 29 andpipes 30A will open check valves 'l lt will be 'seen that by opening 32' the 'injectors 31 will become inoperative for should the engineer in charge, on hearing the alarm whistle'36 blow,-start the operation of saidinjectors, the same will be inoperative because they will fail toraise the water through the water Apipe since communication is now established withjthe atmosphere.

bepositively prevented from bringing aboutl 'f' the dangerous condition which the sudden introduction of waterinto a boilerv Ventails' when the water therein has sunk below the safety level. Furthermore a reduction of air pressure inthe train line is caused by the escape of air therefrom through the` opening of valve26, allowing the air from the train line to pass from chamber 27 to chamber 22 and thence out into the atmos- The engineer will, therefore,

vwhere coal isused instead of oil.

and opening into the iire'boX.

phere through channels 22 andinto the injector connections 3Q. Such 'reduction of pressure'in the train line will set the brakes in the train as will Vbe understood. It will therefore beseen that my apparatus automatically applies the brakes in the train, when uponthe melting of the fusible plug, the steam lifts valve 26, thereby establishing communication between the train line and intermediatechamber 22. Y

It may occur that onthe locomotive going down a steep grade, the water in the boiler will shift its level so thatl the water will flow toward the front end of the boiler and theV crown sheetin the rear will be uncovered. T he safety device will become opera tive V on the melting of the fusible plug. should now Vthe engineer and the fireman in charge of the locomotive, fearing an instant explosion'of the boiler, ldesert the locomotive and -leave the train to its fate, a wreck would be liable .to occur, especially in View of the fact that the train is going down a steep grade which is usually found in connection with heavy'curves, if it were not for the automatic application of the air brake just described. 'i

The air pressure in the train line is usually about pounds to the Vsquare inch. The ordinary workingfY pressure of steam within the locomotive boiler exceeds said pressure, and, therefore, will Ybe able to lift valve 26 against the air pressure inthe train line. However, should, for any reason, the steam pressure be below that required to lift valve 26 against the air pressure in the train line, the lostmotion'connection in the guide 26 will allow valve 21`to`be lifted from its seat without affecting valve V26. Atmospheric connection will `be' established between the injector connections 30 through air channels 22 and bores 34, thus rendering the injectors inoperative, without any connection withjthe trainv line.

'lVhile I haveshown my invention applied to a vlocomotive boiler, it is obvious that the same is also'app'licableto stationary boilers of any-preferredy construction.y Where the air brake system vis absence, the injectors are made inoperative by providing atmospheric communication with chamber 22 through air channels 22., On the lifting of valve body 18 and valve disk 21 atmospheric communication will be established with the injectors. Vihile I have shownl myapparatus in connection with a boiler using oil as fuel, it is obvious that the same may be f used also Where coal is used, pipe 37 ismade `to extend to In case of said pipe 37 becoming". iilled 'with steam from the boiler, on the melting ofthe fusible plug, the steam from said pipe will eX- tinguish the fire in' thefurnace.

I have also provided meansfor detecting `whether or not the,` `fusible plu-g 12 is its norinal condition by; providing a Asmall opening "'lOfzin -pipe 15 vat' l any :suitable point. vAssuming thatthe plugflQ waslmelted in the previous operation f4 the boiler and thisi fact isf .unknowng to i the engineer in .charge whe'nfihe boue is fined with water @nabeiired up, thefcompressedzy fore 'the' same is air above the water space will force thefwater in theboiler whichicovers said-fusible' plug throughfboresV 13' or any other'igleak which may be present,fthroughpipe 15 and through the small within the boileris out of order. a 11 I .do notlimitmyselffto the specific .con-

struction of theA safety attachment vfor boilers as described,x for iti is obviouslthat the art without departingTfiom-the spirit-l f a condui connecting saidinjector with said.`

changes may be made by those skilled in of my invention.

I claim:

l. vIn Ya safety attachmentforboilers the j Va fusible plug v mountedfb the crown sheet 4thereof, said plug comprising a tubular casing and adapt* combination of a boiler,

ed to establishlcommunication betweenthe 'interior vof the boiler and the interior of said casing when thewater withinethe boiler falls below a predetermined level, a pipe leading from said plugV to the exterior of the boiler, a valve casing mounted on said pipe, a whistle, a fluid fuel supply for the boiler, an injector `for 4the boiler, separate conduits connecting said whistle, said fuel supply and said injector with said valve casing, aiA check valve disposed inthe conduit leading to said fuel supply and adapted `to close the same, a check valvedisposed in the conduit leading to said injector and adapt'- ed to establish communication with a source of air thereby making the injector inoperative, and a valve body lwithin said valve casing normally closing said conduits and adapted to establish communication between the interior of the boiler and said conduits when the fusible plug is melted, whereby said whistle and said check `valves will be operated, substantially as described.

2. In a safety attachment for boilers theV combination of a boiler, a fusible plug mountedl on thecrown sheet thereof, a pipe leading from said plug toV the exteriorof the boiler, said plug being adapted to estab'-l lish communication between the interior of the boiler and the interior of said pipe when the water within theboiler falls below a predetermined level, a Valve casing mounted on said pipe, a fluid fuel supplyk for the boiler, an injector for vthe boiler, separate conduits connecting said fluid fuel supply .and said injector with said .valve casing, a check valve disposed in the conduit leading to said fuel supply and adapted to close the mountedon the vtablislicommunicationwithja source of air:,. j a l thereby making/ tl'ieg-injector inoperative, and W ai yValve 'body .withini said valveicasing nor? L.

mally closing said conduits andfadapt'ed to establish "j communication between the interior' ofthe boiler and Vsaid yconduits".yvhen the fusibleplugfis melted, i whe i"ebyl;` said. check valves will be "operated, subs tfantial lyl describedfl predetermined level, valve Lcasing mountsameg'aclieclr valvedisposed intherfnduit leading to said-injector; andadapted to 'ese-'1i l ed onl said pipe, an inj ector for thefboiler,

conduit and adaptel to establishcommuni-f` cationV with a source of air, thereby mak-v ing the,-injec`tor "inoperative,` and af valve f body Within saidvalve casing normally clos,-

ing salidconduitfand adapted toestablish- M- communicationfbetween the interior of the u conduit-: when the fusible plug is melted', substantially asdescribed, .i

4. In Ya safetyv attachmenty for boilersithe combination of Y boiler, a 'fusible'jp'lug f mounted onthe crownsheet thereof, a pipe` leading from"said plug to thefeXterior of theV boiler, said plug being adapted toestablish boiler and said.

communication Vvbetween thefinterior of the boiler and the interior of said pipe vwhentliel Y water within 'the boilerv falls below a prede.

termined level, a whistle, a Yfluid fuel supply separate conduits connecting said Whistle,

pipe, a check valve leading to said injector adapted to establish `for the'boiler, an injector -for theboile'r,

communicationjwith a-source of air, thereby the interior ofthelboiler and saidf'c'onduits lwhen `the fusibleplug is melted, whereby, saidrk whistle andjsaid `rcheck valves-,will be 'u 5.'In a safety .attachment for boilers, the e combination of". afboiler, a gfusible plug i crown sheet thereof, a pipe .to the eXteriorlOf, the

operated, substantially as described.

leading therefromk boiler, said plug being adapted toestablish making the injector inoperative, check f valve disposed in thecoiiduit vleadingfto said i fuel supplyV andv adapted to vclose'same, and

means normally closing said conduits and 1 15 communication. between the interiorQof- -the 1 boiler andthe interior of saidpipefwhen the waterwithin thejboiler fallsfbelowia pm.

determined level, la val-.ve casingv mounted on' said pipe, a whistle, 4 aiiuid ffuel s ufpply;forY

' scribed.

the boiler, injectorfor thev boiler, means within said valve casing Yoperative when the fusibleplugismeltedto Voperate the whistle,ito shutoff the fuel supply, andto g render the injector inoperative, substantially` as described. Y V6. In a safety attachment for boilers the combination '-of a Vbo i'ler,'=a fusible plugA mounted on the .crownsheet thereof, apipe,

mounted on-sa'id` pipe forshutting loff said.

fuel supply andfor rendering said injector inoperative, an outlet in said pipe adapted to allow the water fromV the boiler to flow from said pipe when the fusible. plug is melted and theboiler is filled with Vwater previousito' firing up, substantially as de'- 7..In a safety attachmentv for locomotive boilers, a fusibleplug mounted'in a boiler, a pipe leading therefrom to the exterior of thel boiler, 'said plug beingy adapted .to establish communication'between the interior of the boiler .and the interior of saidfpipe when the .water vwithinthe boiler falls below a predetermined level, a water. feeding apparatus for the boiler, and means operative when'the'Y fusible plug isv melted for rendering said water feeding` apparatus inoperative, substantially as described.;

8. In a .safety attachment for locomotive boilers, the combination with a boiler and a water feeding apparatus for the boiler,

vmeans operative when -thewater 'within the boiler falls below a predetermined level for renderingsaid water feeding apparatus inoperative, substantially as described.

Inv witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed rmyname this 3rd day of April, 1915.

CHARLES w. SULLIVAN.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. of Patents,

` *Washingtom D. C. y Y 

